Car builders like General Motors, Ford, Chrysler (excuse me Fiat) and Toyota should have their advertising staffs study Victosa and other pharmaceutical company advertising.

As you know, they often include warnings.

At the end of the drug commercials somebody talking a million words a minute puts forth disclaimers like, “Don’t take this if you are experiencing dizziness, dry mouth, or shortness of breath. May cause constipation or diarrhea.

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor RIGHT AWAY!”

Automakers could reduce their number of recalls if they warned, “Do not drive this car if you are going shopping, taking your kids to school or going to church.”

Had the car makers been using these suggestions the past dozen years, they wouldn’t be subjected to all the ignition, brake and steering lawsuits.

* * *

I purposely and mistakenly tuned in the Academy of Country Music Awards a week or three ago. What have they last four generations done to our country music?

Hazel and I spent our Friday nights square dancing and listening to country music in Swartz Creek and our Saturday nights doing polkas in the same town (but at different sites).

We heard and sang country music with names like Roy Acuff, Glenn Campbell and the Hee Haw gang.

Today’s country music is noise, LOUD noise. People stand near a stage, jumping up and down, yelling and otherwise ruining a good night.

I didn’t see anyone holding their honey and swaying. I saw people trying to hear over the extreme electronics of the stringed instruments and the blasting of horns.

If we’d see (heard) this coming we’d prepared Jim, Luan and Susan much better, by cutting their ears in half at birth.

* * *

Writing of Luan, I found a way to tell if my adult children have my best interest at heart, care about my appearance and have unforgiving love for me.

I can no longer reach down to pull my shoes on. Luan was handy, so I asked her for help.

Later, when I decided to get up, I noticed my shoes were on the wrong feet.

It was a deliberate act to embarrass me.

* * *

n The bathtub was invented in 1850 and the telephone in 1875. This probably doesn’t mean anything special, but if you had been living back then, you could have sat in the bathtub for up to 25 years without hearing the telephone ring.

n The height of delicacy was displayed by the flagpole sitter who, when his wife died, came down half way.

n Too many people think the government should not only guarantee them a chance to pursue happiness but should also run interference for them.